Sectionality or Why Section Determines Grades: an Exploration of Engineering Core Course Section Grades using a Hierarchical Linear Model and the Multiple-Institution Database for Investigating Engineering Longitudinal Development

George D. Ricco is a doctoral student in Purdue University's School of Engineering Education. He previously received an M.S. in earth and planetary sciences studying geospatial imaging and a M.S. in physics studying high-pressure, high-temperature FT-IR spectroscopy in heavy water, both from the University of California, Santa Cruz. He has a B.S.E. in engineering physics with a concentration in electrical engineering from Case Western Reserve University. His academic interests include longitudinal analy-Noah Salzman is a graduate student in engineering education and mechanical engineering at Purdue University. He received his B.S. in engineering from Swarthmore College, and his M.Ed. in secondary science education from University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He has work experience as both an engineer and taught science, technology, engineering, and mathematics at the high school level. His research focuses on the intersection of pre-college and undergraduate engineering programs. on the longitudinal study of engineering students, team assignment, peer evaluation, and active and col-laborative teaching methods has been supported by more than $11.